RWB Discount to New World-Old World Showdown at WGBH

The only way to really GET the difference between an Old World wine and a New World wine is to taste them side by side, one after the other. Twodifferent wines, two different continents, but the same grape.

The problem is that, enjoyable and helpful as those opportunities are, they simply don't come along too often.

The brand new WGBH Foodie community is setting out to change all that.

Next Friday evening, March 19, they're setting up the Atrium of their beautiful studios in Brighton for a bit of a New World-Old World showdown. And you are invited to join in on a little friendly competition.

At a discount, no less. (Tickets normally cost $25 but they're $20 for RWB readers.)

First you'll taste Sauvignon Blanc from the Old World. Fifteen minuteslater you'll taste Sauvignon Blanc from the New World. Then you'll vote for your favorite.

Next you'll taste Riesling from the Old World. Fifteen minutes later you'll taste Riesling from the New World. Then you'll vote for yourfavorite.

They'll repeat the process with red wines too (Pinot Noir and Syrah). Theypour. You taste. We debate. You vote. Everyone wins.

It will be lively and fun and by the end of it you will -- finally! --recognize the difference between New World and Old World wines.

It's the perfect way to end your workweek.

WHAT: New World-Old World Showdown Wine Tasting
WHERE: In the Atrium of the WGBH Studios, 1 Guest Street, Brighton
WHEN: Friday, March 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
COST: Normally $25 but $20 for RWB readers.
PURCHASE TICKETS: Click here.

DAILY TIDBIT:

The "warm-up" to this New World-Old World showdown will be a sparkling wine reception from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The "cool down" is a jazz performance starting at 9 p.m.

Corks & Forks at Shubie's: Focus on Greece

Maybe you've have had dolmas and fatoush salad.

But what about Asirtiko Athiri?

Or Boutari Nemea?

Or Naussa Grande Reserva?

They would be the three Greek wines being poured tomorrow night at Shubie's in Marblehead.

And this would be the menu to go along with them:

Humus with pistachio oil
Dolmas with beef, pine nuts and currants, drizzled with fig syrup
Lavash with tuna tartare, olives, capers, pistachios and yogurt sauce
Falafel fried chicken with humus sauce
Fatoush salad with chopped vegetables and feta
Candied pecans

Unusual?

You bet.

That's why it's worth it.


WHAT: Corks & Forks Series, Focus on Greece
WHERE: Shubie's Marketplace, 16 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead
WHEN: Thursday, March 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
COST: $35. No RSVP required.

DAILY TIDBIT:

The average age of a French oak tree harvested for use in wine barrels is 170 years.

Spring Wine Fest 2010, Two-for-One Special This Week Only

So, yes, May 22 is a ways away.

But here's a very good reason to think about it now: saving 50% off your ticket to the Boston Event Guide's Spring Wine Fest that's happening that day.

The Wine Fest happens in two parts: an afternoon tasting from 1 to 5 p.m., and an evening tasting from 6 to 10 p.m.

Either way, that's four hours of festivity -- including wines, foods, and a whole lot of socializing -- for you and another very good friend for $39 (afternoon tasting) or $49 (evening tasting) all in.

Chances are pretty good that, even two months from now, you will still think that's one heck of a deal.

Except this offer won't be available two months from now.

It ends this Friday, March 12.

Get on it. Then take your good sweet time choosing your lucky buddy.

WHAT: Spring Wine Fest 2010, sponsored by the Boston Event Guide
WHEN: Saturday, May 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.
WHERE: Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston
COST: $39 for two tickets to afternoon session, $49 for two tickets to evening session
SPECIAL NOTE: Offer ends this Friday, March 12.

DAILY TIDBIT:

A substance called Mother of Vinegar helps turn wine to vinegar the same way a sourdough starter helps turn flour and water into bread.

Taste of the South End TOMORROW

To know the South End is to love the South End.

(Especially if you're a food-and-wine kind of person. Or a design kind of person. Or a fashion kind of person. Or or or.)

Tomorrow night, for a mere two and a half hours, the who's who of the food-and-wine South End comes to you.

On a plate, as it were.

Taste of the South End kicks off at 7 p.m. By 7:01 p.m. you, your appetite, and some 40+ restaurants -- not to mention a whole lot of other hungry folks -- will be jockeying for position at the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts.

Not that this is a bad thing by any stretch. Not with restaurants like Hamersley's, Toro, and Tremont 647 offering up their fare to all comers.

It's just that it will be a lot of ground to cover in two and a half hours.

Best to keep it simple.

Know. Love. Eat.

Then love some more.


WHAT: Taste of the South End, a Benefit for AIDS Action Committee
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9. VIP admission from 6 to 7 p.m. General admission from 7 to 9:30.
WHERE: Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, Boston
COST: VIP admission $150, General admission $95
MORE INFO: Click here.

DAILY TIDBIT:

"Here's looking at you, kid."

-- Humphrey Bogart, with a glass of Champagne, toasting Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca.

Minds Matter Soiree + Berkshire Mountain Distillers = RWB Discount

Fun fact of the day: Berkshire Mountain Distillers is the first legal distillery in the Berkshires since Prohibition.

More fun fact of the day: they're the liquor sponsor for the second annual Minds Matter Soireehappening this week-end, which means they'll be serving up their hand-crafted vodka, gin and rum cocktails at their open bar, alongside beer from Sam Adams and Narragansett.

Most fun fact of the day: they're offering a $20 discount to the Soiree for Red White Boston readers, who will still be contributing to Mind Matters' goal of pairing volunteer adults with inner-city Boston public high school students to help them prepare for and apply to college.

That's the deal.

Buy a ticket (at a discount).

Drink vodka etc (made with Berkshire spring water).

Help a kid get to college.

All while you Soiree the night away.

WHAT: Second Annual Minds Matter Soiree, co-sponsored by Berkshire Mountain Distillers
WHAT ELSE: Open bar, food, live music, dancing, silent auction
WHERE: Artists for the Humanities Center, 100 W 2nd St., Boston
WHEN: Saturday, March 6 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
COST: $115 minus $20 for Red White Boston readers
MORE INFO: Click here.

DAILY TIDBIT:

Check out the How2Heroes video about Berkshire Mountain Distillers, their distillery, and the manufacture of their products.

Restaurant Week Tips for Wine Folks

We're already hearing that Restaurant Week reservations are booked up in certain locations unless, of course, you wanted to have your $20.10 lunch at 10:45 a.m.

And we're hearing about restaurants offering Restaurant Week menus and prices all month long. That's an up side of a down economy -- a buyer's market for food lovers.

But what we hear more than anything is, Where should I go?

A few suggestions are below. You'll see why.


WHERE: Gaslight Brasserie, 560 Harrison Avenue, Boston
WHY: The price of dinner includes a glass of wine.

WHERE: ROCCA Kitchen & Bar, 500 Harrison Avenue, Boston
WHY: $30.10 wines, $20.10 pitchers of cocktails.

WHERE: Buona Vita, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington
WHY: 20% off wine by the bottle, a different selection each day.

WHERE: Aquitane French Bistro, 569 Tremont Street, Boston
WHY: Optional wine pairings, $18.

WHERE: Beacon Hill Bistro, 25 Charles Street, Boston
WHY: Dessert wine pairing, $20.10. Optional wine pairing, $19.

The official run-down of Restaurant Week in Boston goes like this:

WHEN: March 14 to 19 and March 21 to 26

HOW MUCH: 2-course lunch for $15.10, 3-course lunch for $22.10, 3-course dinner for $33.10

WHO'S IN: 216+ restaurants. Check out the full list.

WHAT ELSE: The folks behind Restaurant Week have teamed up with vendors to offer special packages on theater tickets and hotels. So you can really make a night of it, from soup to nuts.

Watch Videos, Win Wine Dinner, Taste Malbec

Here's what you do.

1. Watch this video of Gary V. talking about Malbecs from the Old World. (He talks about lipstick, cranberries, raspberry jam sandwiches, and the Patriots too.)

2. Watch this video of a producer of Malbecs from the Old World talking about coming to Boston for his tasting this week-end.

3. Grab your ticket for the tasting on Saturday evening at the Bulthaup Design Studio, so you can taste what they're talking about. Bonus: use the code RWBCAHORS for a special discount for Red White Boston readers.

3. Tell us, in 50 words or less, why you'd like to try Old World Malbecs. The best answer winsone of only twelve seats at dinner with the winemaker at Sel de la Terre in the Back Bay after the tasting. The winner's dinner will be free.

4. Want to grab a seat at that table anyway and take no risk? Good for you. Let us know that too and we'll add your RSVP.

Watch videos. Taste Malbec. Win dinner.

Done done and done.


WHAT: Discount to Old World Malbec Tasting
WHEN: Saturday, March 6 from 5 to 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bulthaup Design Studio, 200 Boylston Street, Boston
COST: Normally $25, $20 for RWB readers with the code RWBCAHORS
RSVP: Click here.

DAILY TIDBIT:

Philippe Lejeune, the Old World producer in the video, has a cool history with Boston. Back in the day, when he was a young engineering intern, he came from France to work at Teradyne in North Reading, MA. He promptly invented a systems solution for semiconductors -- right -- then patented it and eventually built two companies, including Galaxy Semiconductors where he is still CEO. He bought Chateau Chambert in 2006 and has been making wine ever since alongside Stephane Derenoncourt, one of the most in-demand consulting winemakers in the world today.